My attention is wavering from the scene before me as Arkady Orlov drones on beside me about a new cocaine supplier. The Orlovs are the biggest drug runners on this side of Russia. I’ve been wanting to steal a piece of their market and have been watching them closely.
Except now.
Now I’m watching my fiancée and Ven making a fool of the Vasiliev name as they practically play grab-ass at the dining room table in front of everyone. I accused her of it, but it’s looking apparent that he’s fucking her.
All thoughts of the Orlovs and cocaine and murder dissipate when a foot nudges mine. At first, I think Irina accidentally touched my foot, but when I look over at her, her cheeks are pink as she does it again. A bare foot slides up my ankle and playfully rubs against the side of my leg. My cock responds with a jolt.
“Irina,” I growl under my breath.
She looks up at me from under her heavily darkened with mascara lashes and smiles. So damn innocent. A little angel flirting with the devil. Naughty girl. Naughty, naughty girl. “I want to paint you.”
I stare at her in confusion. In one simple sentence, she’s rocked my entire world. I find my mask slipping as I indulge this little princess. “Oh?”
She nods, tucking a blonde strand of hair behind her ear. Her toes continue to playfully tease me under the table and my cock strains in my slacks. It may as well just be she and I in this room. Nobody else matters. Not Diana. Not the marriage. Not the Vasiliev name or my awful father.
Just Shadow, brilliant like the sun.
“Why?” I ask, curious of her sudden flirtations.
She shrugs. “Because you’re something beautiful. I like to paint beautiful things.” I don’t sense deception in her words. Just honest to God truth.
“Perhaps one day,” I tell her, turning my head toward the sound of Diana’s laughter.
A slender leg hooks over mine under the tablecloth and I jerk my head back to Irina. Her icy blue eyes blaze with determination. Full, pouty lips that have been painted a seductive red part and entice me. Those lips were mine this afternoon. I owned and teased them. I’ll have them again. Knowing she’s spread open under the table drives me mad with need. Slipping my hand under the cloth, I palm her bare thigh above her knee hooked over my leg. She shivers, but doesn’t pull away.
“Why the sudden change of heart?” I ask as I take a bite of salmon with my free hand.
She mimics my action and gasps slightly when I caress her silky flesh. “I have needs,” she states bluntly.
I chew slowly and stare her down. She’s gorgeous tonight in a demure but short black dress that showcases what a knockout she is. I nearly came unglued seeing her at my father’s side earlier. If it wouldn’t have caused a scene, I would have plucked her from his grip and tossed her over my shoulder like a goddamn caveman. I’m still tempted to do just that.
“I could see to those needs,” I murmur, my hand slowly sliding up her naked thigh.
Her breath hitches and she trembles. “Vlad.” The needy whine of her voice has me blind with lust. I’ve never wanted something so bad in my entire life.
I am going to fuck sweet little Irina. The idea of it almost steals the air from my lungs. I told myself no. Committed myself to the idea of marrying Diana and not taking what I really want. But after sitting through a dinner of Diana laughing and touching Ven every few seconds, I’ve decided I don’t owe her a goddamn thing, and what she doesn’t know can’t hurt her anyway. Right?
Oh, sweet, little Irina will come for me. She will spread her milky thighs and I’ll explore the treasures no man has ever seen or touched before. Then, maybe it will get her out my system and I can move on and become the husband I’m designated to be to her sister.
Don’t worry, Shadow, you will get what you so desperately crave.
That’s matter of fact.
She must know this by now.
It’s happening.
“Your sister is watching,” I taunt, gaging her for a reaction.
Her brows furrow and she quickly looks over at Diana. She smiles at her sister until I slip my palm higher up her thigh, stealing that smile right from her face.
Dinner continues, and I keep my palm firmly attached to her. I bet her panties are dripping with excitement. I’m craving to taste her arousal.
As soon as she finishes, she touches my bicep. “I’d like to paint you.” Fire blazes in her gaze. “Now.”
I lift a brow in question. “Now?”
“Now,” she repeats.
“Paint?” Father inquires from beside her.
“A wedding gift for Diana,” Irina says flawlessly, the lie unnoticeable to anyone but me. She untangles herself from me and stands. “Excuse me.”
“Your studio isn’t ready,” I tell her, “but I know of a place.”
I rise and offer my father a nod. Diana is too engrossed in what Ven is saying to notice I’m leaving to put my dick inside her sister. Irina rushes from the dining room, her black dress bouncing around her. I stalk her like she’s my prey. As soon as she enters the hallway, she pulls off her shoes and takes off in a sprint. It takes a moment for my mind to catch up with the fact that she’s running from me.
The chase is always my favorite part.
I’ll catch her.
I don’t waste any time and charge after her. It may be goddamn cold in Russia, but I still put at least eight miles a day running on a treadmill. Indoors. Where it’s warm. She’ll never outrun me. I hear a door slam. She’s gone into my father’s wing of the house. My sweet little Irina is lucky I’m here to protect her. Left alone in Daddy’s lair is an awful place to be.
I push open the door to Father’s sitting room and find her with her back against a bookcase. Kicking the door behind me, I prowl her way. Her blue eyes are wide and frightened, making my heart race with excitement.
“Vlad,” she starts, her voice hoarse and terrified.
“Shhh.” I stalk over to her and grasp her delicate neck in my hand—the same hand that was up her dress earlier. Her shoes fall to the wood floor with a clatter. “You can’t tease a lion and not expect to get eaten.”
She cries out when I pin her to the bookshelf and attack her mouth with mine. My thumb strokes the side of her neck, reveling in the way her pulse goes wild beneath my touch. At first, her kiss is clumsy and unsure, but then she’s clawing at the lapels of my jacket. I abandon my grip on her throat to touch her in other places. My palms skim along her ribs, then slide around to her ass. I lift her and groan when she spreads her slender legs to allow me where we both know I need to be.
My cock is painfully hard, and I grind against her soft center as I nip at her bottom lip. Her moan is needy. A sweet beg. “Do you remember last night now?”
She moans again. “Yes.”
“Your body is so receptive. You want this, Irina. You want me to destroy every part of you. You’ll love it.”
She nods, sliding her fingers into my hair. Her grip tightens around my thick locks as she deepens our kiss. We both fight desperately to have the upper hand, and hell if she isn’t winning. I’m consumed by the need to have her. I buck against her, eager to see her come apart again because of me. The little bad girl loses control and rocks with me in anticipation of her release. I pull a hand from her perfect ass to grip her perky tit through her dress. The sounds coming from her are wild and crazed.
“I’m going to fuck you,” I snarl, my teeth nipping her lip, then chin. She cries out when I bite her throat. I move my mouth near her ear and nibble the skin there as well. “I’m going to fuck you right here against my father’s books.”
She whimpers, my words sending her over the edge. Her body shatters with an orgasm. If she comes so easily just from a little rubbing, I can’t wait to watch her lose her mind when I use my tongue.
Before she comes down from her high, I slide my hand between us and find her panties. Wet. Soaked. She’s so hot for me, she’s making a mess. It makes me fucking crazy. I slide her panties to the side, and a choked sound escapes her.
“Vlad…I…this isn’t…I’m…we can’t do this.”
I yank at my belt, then unfasten my slacks. She’s gasping and writhing, but not trying to get away. When I free my thick, aching cock and rub it against her clit, she jolts in my grip. “Then tell me no,” I beg, my mouth a whisper over hers.
“Vlad…” she moans. “No, please.” Her whines are needy. She says what her heart screams at her to say so she won’t betray her sister, but her body begs for the opposite.
She wants me to be the bad guy.
It’s a good damn thing I enjoy the hell out of that notion.
“No turning back now, little shadow,” I threaten, my teeth nipping at her swollen lip. “You started this, and now, you’ll finish it.”
Her fingers scratch through my scalp and she nods, but she whispers the words, “No, we can’t.”
“Of course we can,” I growl. “And we will.”
I kiss her mouth to muffle her screams as I slide my tip to her tight opening and impale her with a quick, violent thrust that has books falling off the shelf beside us.
Tight.
Fuck, my sweet little virgin is tight.
Her cunt suffocates my cock. It’s her pussy that is the sadist, not me. It’s the one into choking at the moment, and all I can do is let her slowly kill me with pleasure. She’s the best damn thing I’ve ever sunk my dick into.
“OW!” she cries out, her fingers ripping at my hair. “We can’t do this.” Her words are breathy as her hands tug at me, bringing me closer, contradicting the words slipping off her tongue.
It’s cute, the battle of what her heart begs and body dictates.
I slowly pull out, then slam into her again. A loud, ugly sob rips from her, so I silence her with another kiss. One’s virginity loss is never a pleasurable event. At least not for the woman. She’ll hurt for days after as she remembers how I took over her body from the inside out. Like the devil himself sent to invade her soul.
“Vlad,” she cries, “please.” She whimpers. “We can’t”
“But we are,” I remind her, pounding harder into her, driving home my point.
I fuck her hard and fast, kissing her perfect mouth.
“Vlad,” she pleads again. “Oh God.”
“I know, little one. I know. Let me own you.”
Her grip on my hair lessens and she slides her palms to the outside of my neck. She relaxes some, and my chest fills with pride that she trusts me to take care of her. I rock my hips into her, making sure to grind against her sensitive clit with each thrust. Her cunt is dripping from her last orgasm, giving me all the lubrication I need to slide in and out easily. She goes from trying to get away to clinging to me as though I’m a life raft.
“Vlad…”
“So perfect,” I breathe against her mouth. “So mine.”
Her body trembles and quakes, but I know she won’t come like this. Not her first time. So, I fuck her hard and good. Soon, I’ll take hours drawing pleasure from her. When she can thoroughly enjoy it without pain.
And then…
Then I’ll bring her into my dark world where pain is the king over pleasure. He rules with an iron fist. And pleasure bends to the will of pain. I will show her my kingdom. She will be my queen.
I grunt as my nuts seize up with my orgasm. It’s a major test to my willpower, but I manage to slip out of her as I spurt my seed against her lower stomach. We’re both breathing heavily, and she clutches onto me as though she never wants to let go.
Because of those in our world, she’ll be forced to let go and soon.
But right here, in this room, she can have me. All of me. The real me.
I nuzzle my nose along hers, then lean my forehead against hers. “Irina.”
“Vlad,” she whispers.
“You’re dangerous to me,” I admit, my voice hoarse and husky.
“You’ll survive,” she teases.
Pulling away, I stare into her glimmering eyes. A heavy emotion shines in them—one I’ve seen surface over the years when she looks my way. One that was stronger this afternoon when we kissed. A look that now nearly knocks me over.
Falling.
She’s falling so hard.
I’ll catch her.
“Nobody can know.” I hate having to ruin this moment with the truth.
Her lip trembles. “I know.”
“As do I. We’re the only ones who know.”
I pull away and set her to her feet. Her entire body shakes as her dress falls into place, my cum creating a wet spot where her stomach is. It speaks to my inner animal. Possessive, crushing thoughts overwhelm me.
Fucking mine.
The little sun named Shadow is mine.
“Vlad?” Her voice is soft and unsure.
“Yes, solntce moyo?”
She regards me with a soft expression. “I still want to paint you.”
My chest cracks open, and I let this girl in. I know it’s foolish. Everyone I let in either dies or betrays me or leaves me. And yet…
“You will,” I assure her. “Let’s get to it. I’m not done with you yet.”
I don’t think I’ll ever be done with her.
The events of the day wear on me and I find myself drifting to sleep in the armchair in Irina’s new room. She’s been in her bathroom for what feels like forever. I fall sleep until her soft voice awakens me.
“Vlad?”
“Mmm?”
“Can you lose the jacket?”
I blink open my eyes to find her sitting on the floor in front of me. Her easels must be still packed away, but I can see where she’s dragged out items from bags and spread them around her. Paints and brushes. A blank canvas. Her wet hair is twisted into a messy bun and her face is free of makeup. Freckles that are usually hidden by makeup make their appearance, reminding me of when she was younger.
“You’re beautiful,” I murmur.
She smiles at me. “Thank you. Now get naked.”
“Naked?” I chuckle at her boldness, but rise to my feet. She’s so damn cute in a black tank top and tight, black yoga pants. Her feet are bare and I have the urge to kiss them. Never in my life have I wanted to kiss someone’s feet. But with her little painted toes wiggling, I’m thinking kissing her feet sounds entirely too enticing.
Pulling off my jacket, I drape it over the back of my chair. Her brows are furrowed as she watches me. I pluck through the buttons of my vest and lose it along with my tie. I slowly undo my dress shirt, enjoying the hungry way she’s watching me.
“How’s your cunt?” I ask.
Her cheeks burn bright red. “Fine.”
I chuckle and slide the shirt off my shoulders. When I tug off the wife beater, I regard her with a lifted brow. “Want me to keep going?”
She swallows and nods. “I know what I want to paint. Keep going.”
Amused, I unbuckle my belt and send my slacks to the floor, kicking out of them and my shoes. She points at my socks, and I laugh. When I start to pull off my black boxer briefs, she stops me.
“Leave those on and sit back down. You can go back to sleep if you want.” Her embarrassment fades as she busies herself with her paints.
“I was just sure you wanted to paint my dick,” I tease.
She lets out a cute laugh. “Typical male. It’s not all about the penis. It’s about the male form.” Her skin flushes. “Not just any male. You.”
I settle into the chair and sprawl my legs out. Seeing her look so damn adorable in her element has my cock hardening again.
“Hey now,” she says playfully, “keep that thing in check. I have a man to paint.”
I chuckle. It’s real and uncharacteristic for me. She makes me feel free, unburdened, and young. She makes me feel like a man and a boy all in one. I’ve never felt so relaxed around another person before. I’ve taken my clothes off, but she makes me feel naked. Like I’m baring not just my skin and body, but also my soul.
I scratch at the side of my jaw as I stare at her. She’s beautiful when she paints. Her eyes seem to glaze over as she sees parts of the world nobody else sees. I find myself enraptured in her stare. After a while of her quietly painting, I start to drift off again.
“Vlad?”
“Mmm?” I don’t open my eyes.
“Keep doing what you’re doing.”
What am I doing?
The sounds of her light breathing lull me to sleep and dreams of her bombard me as I drift deeper into the unknown. This thing between us won’t last—it can’t—but I want it to. With all that I am.
Keep doing what I’m doing?
That shouldn’t be a problem.
Even if I have to keep doing it in secret.